Signal means for rail cars



Nov. 3, 1936. A. O. wlLLlAMs 2,059,718

SIGNAL MEANS FOR RAIL CARS I I Filed March 3, 1933 5 Sheets-Shea?I l Nov. 3, 1936. A 0, WILLIAMS 2,059,718

SIGNAL MEANS FOR RAIL CARS Filed March 3, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 om 3, 1936. A. o. WILLIAMS 2,059,718

. ASIGNAL MEANS FCR RAIL CARS i Filed March s, 195;' 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNiTED STATS PATENT QFFICE SIGNAL MEANS FOR RAIL CARS Application March 3, 1933, Serial No. 659,517

12 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to railroad equipment and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a new and improved signal means for rail cars and other vehicles employing cushioned supporting wheels or the equivalent.

Briefly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved signal means embodying signalling .apparatus carried on the car and means for establishing an electrical connection with the rail contacting tread portions of the cushioned wheels.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a collector ring or the equivalent, l5 adapted to be carried by the metallic rail contacting tread portion of a cushioned wheel, and suitable contacting mechanism and brush means carried by the car and adapted to be urged into and maintained in contact with the collector ring.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved brush supporting means which is adapted to be carried by the car in insulated relation and to dispose the brush in contact or electrical connection with the metallic rail contacting tread portion of the wheel by means of a collector ring or the equivalent.

A further object of the present invention relates to improved means for biasing the brush for movement toward the collector ring so as to maintain a good electrical contact therewith at all times.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred structural embodiment of the principles of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical cross section taken through a cushioned rail car wheel of the type with which the present invention is principally concerned and illustrating one application of my improved signal means;

Figure 2 is a perspective, on a somewhat larger scale than Figure l, illustrating one form of brush and brush holder and the bracket means supporting the same in position with respect to the wheel of the rail car and associated parts; 50 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating a slightly different form of brush holder, corresponding to a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a side elevation looking toward the left in Figure 3, Figure 4 being on a somewhat larger scale; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail, corresponding to a section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the reference numeral I0 indicates a cushioned rail car wheel in its entirety, the wheel I0 being supported upon bearings I2 of conventional construction carried by an axle housing I3 which is, in turn, connected with the side frame I4 of a car truck. The detailed construction of the car truck or the wheel are not per se of any particular concern as far as the present invention is concerned. It is su'icient to note that the wheel I0 includes a spider or wheel body I6 constituting the hub portion of the wheel, and a metallic rail contacting tread portion I1, these wheel parts being suitably connected together by resilient cushioning means 20 disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Robert J. Burrows and myself, Serial No. 699,700, led November 25, 1933, to which reference may be had for further details. The cushioning means 20 is arranged to absorb road shocks and the like, and generally for this purpose rubber members in the form of annular rings or discs are employed. Since rubber is an insulating material it will at once be apparent that the metallic rail contacting tread o-r tire portion I'I is electrically separated from the hub or wheel body portion I6 of the wheel.

At the present time standard railroad equipment usually includes some form of signalling apparatus which utilizes predetermined sections of the track as electrical conductors and which depends on the capacity of the wheels and axles of the rolling stock as short circuiting means to complete a circuit between the rails to operate the desired signals.

The available current in such systems is usually limited and the potential between the rails is generally quite small, and it will therefore be recognized that whatever the short circuiting means is which is utilized to connect the two rails, such means must have a very low resistance. Rails are practically always covered with a coating of oxide, due to atmospheric action and other causes, and the thickness of this coating depends, of course, upon the traic to which the road bed is subjected and other factors. However, the relatively great weight of standard rolling stock is sulicient to break down this coating when the train passes over the section of track incorporated in the signal system, so that the wheels and axles of such equipment can be used to establish a short circuit between the rails having the required low resistance. For example, it has been determined that the Wheels and axles of a locomotive have a resistance of approximately 0.06 of an ohm.

With the advent of light weight rail cars and the like it was shown that this equipment did not have sufficient weight to break through the outside coating so that when such equipment was used on standard lines the customary signal circuits were not properly actuated. In order to overcome this undesirable feature, it has been proposed to employ apparatus carried by light weight rail cars and similar equipment, which apparatus, taken as a whole in conjunction with the wheels and axles or the like of the rail car, serves as short circuiting means between the rails and having the low resistance required by the existing and more or less standardized signalling apparatus.

The present invention is not concerned with the details of such apparatus and it is suilicient to note that one type of such mechanism comprises a source of alternating current carried by the car and so interconnected with four of the truck wheels that a circuit is established which includes, in series, the two wheels on one side of the car and the intervening section of rail and the two wheels on the other side and the corresponding intervening section of rail. The purpose of this arrangement is to establish an a1- ternating current circuit which embodies or includes a section of each of the two rails of the track, the effect of the flow of alternating current through these sections being to break down the film of oxide on the rails and allow a flow of the conventional signal current of the railroad system. Thus, the auxiliary alternating current circuit, as a whole, constitutes a means of short circuiting the two rails so that the relatively low voltage existing between the rails when the conventional railroad signal means is encountered will be sufficient to cause enough current to now from one rail to another to properly actuate the signals. Y

Generally, the railroad signal current is direct current but sometimes the current employed in the rails for signalling means is alternating current. In this case, the alternator carried by the rail car delivers the auxiliary alternating current through the wheels and short sections of the rails intervening therebetween at a frequency which is different than the frequency of the railroad signalling current employed. In this case the apparatus carried by the rail car functions just the same as in the case where direct current is employed in the railroad signalling apparatus, namely, to function as a short circuiting means between the rails and having such a low effective resistance that a suflicient amount of signalling current can flow from one rail to another to properly operate the signals.

As stated above, the present invention is not primarily concerned with the means for establishing the auxiliary circuit of alternating current on the rail car, nor is the present invention concerned with the railroad signal circuits per se, these being a matter of common knowledge in the art. However, the present invention is concerned with the provision of certain means especially useful in rail cars having cushioned wheels and aiding in conducting the auxiliary flow of alternating current from alternator on the car to the cushioned wheels so that the auxiliary circuit of alternating current including the car wheels and the intervening sections of thev track can be established. To this end, the present invention contemplates an arrangement including a brush and collector ring or the equivalent by which the auxiliary flow of alternating current can be directed to the tread portions of the cushioned wheels, which portions are in electrical contact with the rails of the track.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the tubular axle housing i3 carries a brake support 23 welded or otherwise secured thereto and to which is anchored the braking shoes 24 which act, as desired, against a brake drum 25 carried by or rotatable with the hub I6 of the wheel I0.

The brake support 23 furnishes a convenient supporting means for the brush and brush holder by which current is lead to the metallic tread portion I1 of the car wheel. The brush holder, in its entirety, comprises a bracket supported from the brake support 23 and serving, in turn, to movably support a carbon brush or the equivalent adapted to be engaged with a collector ring or the equivalent secured directly to the tread portion l1 of the wheel. The aforesaid bracket comprises a supporting member 30 having a flange 3l adapted to be secured to the brake support 23 by cap screws 32 or the equivalent and a bracket arm section 34 connected with the flange portion 3l by suitable reinforcing webs 35 or the equivalent. The arm 34 is provided with a pair of laterally extending ears 36 which are apertured, as is the bracket arm 34, and these apertures receive rivets 31 by Which a plate or block of insulating material 40 is secured to and carried by the supporting bracket.

The brush holder proper comprises a depending hanger 42 having at each side laterally extending fiange projections 43 separated by a recessed portion 44 which clears the head of the rivets 31 which are displosed in the bracket ears 3B. The insulating plate 4 is provided with apertures adjacent the corners thereof for the reception of securing bolts 45 carried by suitable apertures in the laterally projecting flange portions 43.

The hanger 42 is formed with a pair of laterally spaced parallel walls 50 and 5I which are open along their upper edges and joined together at one end by a transverse wall portion 52. The walls 50 and 5l are spaced apart so that when the hanger 42 is secured to the insulating plate 40 by the bolts 45, no part of the hanger 42 comes into contact with the intermediate rivets 31, and by virtue of the recesses 44 no part of the hanger 42 or its flanges 43 come into contact with the rivets 31 secured in the bracket ears 36. Thus, the hanger 42 is electrically separated from its supporting bracket means by insulating means having the required dielectric strength.

Adjacent the ends opposite the transverse wall 52, the hanger or bracket walls 50 and 5l are extended and terminate in apertured ear portions 55 and 5B which carry a pivot bolt 51, the latter serving to pivotally support a brush arm S0. Suitable means is provided for biasing the arm 60 for movement toward the plane of the wheel l0, and preferably this means takes the form of a spring 6| having an end engaged in an aperture G3, see Figure 2, in the transverse wall 52, the other end of the spring 6| being connected with an eye bolt 65 having a threaded end 66 extending through an aperture 61 formed in the brush arm 60 and provided with a threaded ,adjusting nut 68 by which the tension of the spring means 6| can be adjusted. Preferably, the arm 6|! is provided with pointed projections 'l0 and the hub 'H of the adjusting nut 68 is suitably notched, as at '|3, to cooperate with the projections 'l0 whereby the tension of the spring 6| serves to hold the adjusting nut 68 in any adjusted position. Also, this construction alfords a form of knife edge support or connection between the biasing means and the arm Si) to accommodate the angular movement of the pivotally supported brush arm 60.

The lower portions of the hanger or bracket walls 5G and 5| terminate in a cylindrical or sleeve portion 8B in which is slidably mounted a tubular or cylindrical brush 8| formed of carbon or similar conducting material. The brush 8| has sliding movement in the sleeve portion 8B of the bracket 3|] and is provided with a head 85 against which the outer end of the brush arm 6c is disposed. This end of the arm 5B is rounded, as at 86, and is received between a pair of flanges 8l carried by the head 85. A conductor cable 9i] is welded or otherwise secured at one end to the brush 8| and is provided with a terminal 9| at the other end which is bolted or otherwise secured to a binding post 92 on the insulated hanger 42.

As more clearly set forth in the copending application referred to above, the hub portion I6 is secured to the rail contacting tread portion il by means of rubber cushioning members which are clamped under lateral compression by a clamping ring 93 and suitable clamping bolts 94. These bolts are carried by the metallic rail contacting tread portion and can therefore be utilized to secure a collector ring 95 to and in electrical contact with the tread portion l'l of the wheel. The collector ring 95 includes a flange portion 96 receiving the bolts 94 by means of suitable apertures 91. The collector ring also is provided with a planar portion 93 against which one end of the brush 8| abuts, being held thereagainst by the force of the biasing means 6| acting through the brush arm Si). As best shown in Figure 1, the brush holder or bracket 30, in its entirety, is supported from the relatively stationary brake support 23 in such a position that the brush carrying portion 8|) thereof is disposed adjacent the tread portion il of the wheel and closely adjacent to the collector ring 95 thereof. It is to be understood, of course, that in certain instances the collector ring, as a separate element, may be dispensed with and the clamping flange 9| or some other part carried by the tread portion il! may be utilized as the equivalent of a collector ring. It is also to be understood that while the relatively stationary brake support 23 constitutes a convenient and easily accessible means for supporting the brush and brush holder or bracket, any other part of the car may be utilized for this purpose within the scope of the present invention.

Figures 3 to 5, inclusive, are illustrative of a slightly different form of brush support. In this form the bracket means including the securing ange 3| and the bracket arm 34 isl identical with the form shown in Figure 2, and hence the same reference numerals have been utilized. Likewise, the insulating block il@ in Figure 3 is substantially identical, for all practical purposes, with the form shown in Figure 2. In Figure 3, however, the insulating member lil is shown as secured to the laterally projecting ilange ears 3S by bolt means I I0 instead of rivets, as in Figure 2.

The bracket hanger shown in Figures 3 and i is somewhat different from the form shown in Figure 2 and is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral ||2. The hanger M2 comprises a transverse web ||3 and laterally spaced flanges ||5 and H6. The upper portion of the hanger |2 is flanged, similarly to that shown in Figure 2, and includes. laterally directed fiange portions 43 separated by a recess 44 so that vthe hanger I2 can be secured to the insulating block 40 in electrically separated relation with respect to the supporting bracket arm 36|.

The lower portion of the hanger ||2 is extended laterally toward the wheel I0, .as at H9, and this laterally extended portion is provided with ears |2il or the equivalent spaced as .shown in Figure 4 'and each receiving a pivot pin |22, each pin being properly secured in place by .a set screw |25 and `a locking nut |26.

On each of the pivot pins |22 a brush arm i3d is mounted for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane. The portions of the brush arms receiving the pivot pins |22 are bifurcated, as indicated in Figure 5 by the reference numeral lill, the resulting ears |32 and |33 being apertured to receive the` pin |22. If desired, the set screw |25 and locking nut |26 may be provided on one of the ears of the brush arm rather than on the ear |20 on the brush hanger.

The end of each of the brush arms opposite the ears |32 and i33 is provided with a recess |38 to receive a square carbon brush mi! or the equivalent, the latter being held therein by a closure plate IM secured to the other end of the brush arm by cap screws |43. The closure plate Ml serves to eifectively secure the brush |49 in the corresponding brush arm |30 in adjusted position therein. As the brushes wear, they may be readjusted by loosening the cap screws |23 and moving the brushes le@ to a new position.

Each of the brush arms |32 and the associated brushes are biased for upward movement by spring means |553 which includes a section 95| for each of the arms |39, the spring means |52 being anchored at its central portion to the laterally directed extension H3 of the hanger H2 by means of a clamp-ing plate |55 and cap screws itli or the equivalent. Electrical leads iii are .secured to each of the brushes lili! and are con nected together and to the insulated bracket hanger H2 by means of a binding post |6| and suitable locking nuts |62.

In the form shown in Figure 3, the collector ring is indicated by the reference numeral il@ and. includes a cylindrical portion Wl having its 4axis corresponding generally to the axis of the Wheel IB. The cylindrical portion of the collector ring HI is disposed adjacent the brake support 23 which, in this form as well as in the form of the invention shown in Figures l and 2, carries the brackets supporting the brush means, and the laterally directed extension |25 on the bracket hanger H2 is disposed underneath the cylindrical portion of the collector ring i'lil. This positions the brush arms i3@ and the brushes im) carried thereby underneath the collector ring so that the spring means Hill, acting through the brush `arms |30, .serves to hold the brushes |49 in contact with the collector ring EID.

It is to be noted that, while in Figure 1 the bolt means which secures the clamping ring to the tread portion of the wheel forms the rneans securing the collector ring to sai-d tread portion, in Figure 3 the collector ring |10 is secured to the clamping ring H5 of the wheel by cap screws |16, which are separate from the clamping bolts |18 which secure the clamping ring |15 Vto the tread portion il of the wheel. Thus, in this form, the collector ring is secured in electrical contact with the rail contacting tread portion l1 of the Wheel by means separate from the means which secures the tread portion of the Wheel to the hub portion thereof.

A source of alternating current or the equivalent is carried by the rail car and the operative connections associated therewith may be electrically connected with the brush means described above by any suitable means, such means not forming any part per se of the present invention has not been illustrated. For example, however, it is to be note-d that the binding post 92 in Figure 2 or the binding post ISI in Figure 3 may be employed to effect this connection. If desired, of course, the cables and |60 may be lead directly to the associated apparatus on the rail car.

While I have described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is not to be limited to the specic means shown and described above but that, in fact, widely different means may be utilized in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a rail car, an axle housing, a cushioned wheel journaled t ereon and provided with a hub portion and a metallic rail contacting tread portion separated therefrom by cushioning means and movable relative to said hub portion, a collector member carried by and movable with said metallic contacting tread portion in electrical contact therewith, said cushioning means serving to electrically insulate the rail contacting tread portion and selector member from said hub portion, a bracket supported by said housing and including a portion disposed adjacent said collector member, and brush means carried by said bracket portion for collecting current from .said metallic tread portion without causing the same to pass through the hub portion, said brush means being adapted to be maintained in electrical contact with said collector member while accommodating the relative movement between said hub and tread portions of the rail car wheel.

2. Signal contact means for a rail car having a cushioned wheel with a hub portion and a metallic rail contacting tread portion movable with respect to said hub portion, said contact means comprising, in combination, a collector ring connected to and movable with said tread portion relative to the hub portion of the wheel, a support carried by a relatively stationary part of the car and disposed adjacent said collector ring, a block of insulating material carried by said supporting means and secured thereto, a hanger secured' to said insulating block and extending closely adjacent said collector ring, and brush means carried by said hanger in insulated relation from said supporting means and movable into contact with said collector ring, said brush means being movable relative to said hanger in the direction of relative movement between said hub and tread portions.

3. Signal contact means for a rail car having cushioned wheels with metallic rail contacting tread portions and a collector ring carried by one of said tread portions, said contact means comprising a bracket carried by a relatively stationary part of the car, an insulating plate secured thereto, a. hanger connected with said insulating plate and extending to a point adjacent the tread portion of one of said wheels, said hanger comprising a member having a pair of apertured ears, an arm pivotally supported thereby, brush means movably associated with said hanger and engaged by one end of said arrn, and means for urging said arm toward said collector ring to carry said'brush means into electrical contact therewith.

plurality of cushioned wheels, each having a hub portion and a metallic rail contacting tread portion separated therefrom by insulated cushioning means, said contact means comprising a bracket carried by the car and disposed adjacent one of said tread portions, a collector ring carried by said rail contacting tread portion, a hanger carried by said bracket in insulated relation and including a sleeve portion extending to a point closely adjacent the collector ring carried by said tread portion, and a brush mounted in the sleeve portion of said hanger and shiftable into contact with said collector ring.

5. Signal contact means for a rail car having a plurality of cushioned Wheels, each having a hub portion and a metallic rail contacting tread portion separated therefrom by insulated cushioning means, said contact means comprising a bracket carried by the car and disposed adjacent one of said tread portions, a hanger carried by said bracket in insulated relation and including a sleeve portion, a collector ring carried by said tread portion, a brush mounted in the sleeve portion of said hanger and movable into contact with said collector ring, an arm pivotally supported from the hanger and having one end disposed against one end of said brush, and spring means reacting against said pivoted arm for biasing said brush for movement toward said collector ring.

6. Signal contact means for a rail car having a plurality oi" cushioned supporting wheels, each of said wheels including hub and tread portions separated by cushioning means, said contact means comprising a collector ring carried by the tread portion of one of said wheels and including a substantially cylindrical portion, a bracket supported by the car and having insulating means thereon, a hanger supported by said insulating means` and electrically separated from said car, said hanger including a pair of pivotally supported arms extending from the hanger in opposite directions, a brush carried at the outer end of each of said arms and in a position to contact with the cylindrical portion of said collector ring, and spring means reacting against said hanger for urging said brushes into electrical contact with the collector ring.

7. Signal Contact means for a rail car having a plurality of cushioned supporting wheels having electrically separated hub and tread portions, one of said tread portions including a metallic section and a collector ring secured thereto and provided with an axially disposed cylindrical portion, said contact means comprising a bracket carried by the car and including a portion extending alongside the cylindrical portion of said collector ring, a brush arm pivotally carried by said bracket and 4. Signal contact means for a rail car having a swingable toward and away from said collector 8. In a rail car having a cushioned wheel with a metallic rail contacting tread portion, brake means for the car including a relatively stationary brake support, a bracket connected with said brake support and having a portion extending radially outwardly therefrom to a point adjacent the tread of the Wheel, and brush means carried by said bracket portion and adapted to be disposed in electrical connection with said metallic tread portion.

9. Signal Contact means for a rail car having cushioned Wheels with relatively movable hub and metallic rail contacting tread portions, said means comprising a collector ring carried by and movable With th-e tread portion of one of said wheels, said collector ring having a cylindrical surface concentric with respect to the tread portion with Which it moves, bracket means supported by the car in insulated relation and disposed adjacent said collector ring, a brushholder pivotally connected with said bracket means, brush means supported in said brush holder and movable therewith in a generally radial direction with the cylindrical portion of said collector ring, and spring means for maintaining said brush means in electrical contact with said collector ring irrespective of relative movement between the latter and said bracket means.

10. In a rail car having a cushioned wheel with a metallic rail contacting tread portion, brake means for the car including a relatively stationary brake support, a bracket connected with said brake support, a collector ring carried by the rail contacting tread portion of said wheel and including sections extending inwardly to and disposed adjacent the radially outer portions of said brake support, and brush means carried by said bracket and adapted to be disposed in electrical connection with said collector ring sections.

1l. In signal means for a rail car having a cushioned wheel with a metallic tread portion and a brake support carried adjacent the Wheel, a contact supporting device comprising a supporting member having a flange adapted to be secured to said brake support and lugs disposed in a plane at right angles to said iiange, an insulating plate secured to said lugs, a bracket portion, and means securing the latter in said plate and adjacent the tread portion of said wheel, said means being out of contact with said member and said lugs.

12. In signal means for a rail car having a cushion-ed wheel with a metallic tread portion and a brake support carried adjacent the Wheel, a contact device comprising a supporting member having laterally directed lugs and a ilange adapted to be secured to said brake support and disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of said lugs, an insulating plate, means for securing said plate to said lugs, a brush holding bracket portion also having lugs spaced from said supporting member and the lugs thereof, and means out of contact with said rst securing means and said first mentioned lugs for connecting the lugs of said bracket portion to said insulating plate so as to dispose said bracket portion adjacent the tread portion of said wheel.

ALFRED O. WILLIAMS, 

